ABU
“I gather elements through my emotional experiences then transform them into the art forms which could incorporate anything and everything that’s around me.”

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Brief statement
My CV
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Since 1991 I have lived and worked in England, taking my inspiration from psychology, philosophy, classical music and observation and involvement in urban (and some rural) life and environment. By producing work that is far from traditional, I actively attempt to destabilize static ideas of art; my own art is a synthesis of colour, compositional element and immediacy of presentation combined into unusual forms. In late January
1995 I moved from London to Brockhall Village at the heart of the Ribble Valley, Lancashire. After a year and half I moved to London in November 1996 and 2004 I moved to Kings Langley Hertfordshire, UK. In 2007 Become an
Associates Member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.
I am now experimenting with oil colour, acrylic, water colour and glass. Light, powder colour, cloth, water, smoke, snow and sound have been used in my audio-visual installations. Some of my work has involved features of both painting and sculpture and this has given it a hybrid character.
People Comments
“Abu Jafar is a committed and established artist with a strong exhibition record in the UK. His use of a rich range of media and breadth of concern have earned the artist the wide respect of his peers in London....”
-Marjorie Allthorpe-Guyton, Director of Visual Arts, The Arts Council of England. UK-1999
“ Abu Jafar is a very energetic and gifted artist who has worked in a wide range of media, including installation/ performance as well as sculpture and painting.”
-Isoble Johnston , Curator , Arts Council Collection London UK -99
Jafar’s Banglatown Explosion is an innovative and inclusive project designed to bring the community together in celebration of the millennium.
-Oona King , MP, House of Commons London -99
“Jafar arrived at Goldsmith’s College with an already established artistic practice and reputation as a painter. His work seems to be evolving in interesting ways. He has gained confidence and is able to play off traditional and modernist elements in his work”
- Dr. Sarat Maharaj, Goldsmith’s College University of London - 93
“ What impresses a viewer a Jafar’s painting though his meager output not withstanding, is a sense of total dedication that he brings to in his work. One feels that Jafar is pouring out his whole being in his work, which speaks of his deep convictions and his belief in humanity and the power of love to transform the world, Amour Vincent Omni a could as will be a natural theme for
Jafar”. -Professor Dr. S.
Manzoorul Islam, University of Dhaka-90.
“His work is vibrant in colour and depicts the brighter side of lie, paintings of internal love between man and woman as well as humanity and harmony between people. The desire to depict on canvas a world free of suffering and social injustice has been furled by his own experiences and his determination to succeed as an artist has given him a greater insight into the struggle of others” -Debbie Sellman, Art Critic ,
London - 93.
“Jafar’s grasp of subject power of vision and ability to assimilate may surprise many”
-Writer Anis Choudhury-Dhaka 99
The blurring of distinction between figure and ground is a major factor in decorative art. In the classical arabesque rhythm and pattern sweep both terms into an active mixture. In Islamic traditions writing and decorative design become similarly fused, design and sign become one form. Jafar’s work welds together signature and painterly decoration as a ground, which then, (after a while) emerges as a figure working energetically within the environment. This shared emerging figure is endlessly at home because it continually draws its own ground. Rather than basing a landscape on a grid we find its foundation in the movement of a dynamic arabesque.. in a flourish of signatures.
-Phil king, Artist & Art critic, London 99
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(The format I adopt here is idiosyncratic and departs from standard practice, I know. I feel it is the most telling means I can use to present myself)
Here is some information about me:
Birth Place: I was born on March 21, 1968 in a small village called Jhilna, Patuakhali, Bangladesh.
Education:
Life in UK:
I studied fine arts, painting and drawing at the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka,
Bangladesh 1984/89, Master Drawing of the human figure at the Guildhall University, London
1989/90, Art and Art History at the Goldsmith’s College, University of London 1991/92 and
Philosophy of Arts at the Open University, 1997 UK
Since 1991 I have lived and worked in England, taking my inspiration from psychology, philosophy, classical music and observation and involvement in urban (and some rural) life and environment. By producing work that is far from traditional, I actively attempt to destabilize static ideas of art; my own art is a synthesis of colour, compositional element and immediacy of presentation combined into unusual forms. In late January 1995 I moved from London to Brockhall Village at the heart of the Ribble Valley, Lancashire. After a year and half I moved to London in November 1996 - 2003 then I moved to Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, and carry on my art work. In June 2008 I moved to
The Art House, Wakefield UK.
My experiment:I am now experimenting with oil colour, acrylic, water colour and glass. Light, powder colour, cloth, water, smoke, snow and sound have been used in my audio-visual installations. Some of my work has involved features of both painting and sculpture and this has given it a hybrid character.
Current work: Most of my large-scale installations involve nature, the public and the environment. These are simply based on glass, steel, light and sounds. My work then simplifies our daily lives and the diversity of them in my imaginative ideas in a way that reflects imaginative power and ever changing creative forces in new formative arts.
2008
2002
2001
2000
1996
1994
The Art House, Wakefield
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UK
White Letter 2002, Installation at Trafalgar Sq, London UK
McDowell Modern Art, London, UK.
Abu Jafar Open, London, UK
Snow flower- Installation with snow & glass at the Brockhall Village, Lancashire, UK
So much to tell about, at the Spitalfields Market, London, UK
1995
1993/4
1993
COMMUNICATION Installation at the Changing Room Gallery, London, UK
New End Theatre Gallery, London, UK
“Unknown love” Installation at the Bonnington Square, London, UK
A letter to Eleanor Installation at the York Hall , London, UK
SWEET LOVE Installation, the York Hall, London UK
1992 RELATION IN- BETWEEN NATURE , PAINTING AND LIFE
Installation at the Raymont Hall, Goldsmiths College, University of London, London UK
1990 THE DEWS OF THE MORNING- The British Council, Dhaka Bangladesh
1989 The High Hall, University of Birmingham, UK
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2006
2005
Grand Design Lives, Excel London, UK
Barn-B Open Studio 05, St. Albans, UK
1994
1991
Spitalfields Market, London UK
USSR, Cultural Centre, Dhaka Bangladesh
Group Exhibitions
2008 Botanic Garden, Leicester University, Leicester. UK
The Art House, Wakefield, UK
Open Studio, The Art House, Wakefield, UK
Asia House London, UK
Glasshaus III, The Gallery, Parndon Mill, Harlow Essex, UK
2007 Margaret Harvey Gallery Open Exhibition Margaret Harvey Gallery, ST. Albans, UK
Canterbury Festival Art Fair, The University College for the Creative Arts, Canterbury UK
Glasshaus II, The Gallery, Parndon Mill, Harlow Essex, UK
Autumn Exhibition 07, Angela Mellor Gallery, Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK
Open Studio 07
Burghley Sculpture Garden, Stamford, Lincolnshire UK
Asia House London, UK
Aubourn Hall & Gardens, Lincoln, UK
The Forge Studio and Gallery" Heriard, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
2006 The Brownston Gallery, Modbury, Devon, UK
The Gallery, Harlow, UK
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, UK
Diligence International in Devon
Newcross Healthcare Solutions in Devon
2005 The National Glass Fair 2005, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK
The Studio Glass Gallery, London. UK
The Gallery, Harlow, UK
New London Glass, London UK
Artshed Gallery, Ware, UK
2001 McDowell Modern Art, London UK
McDowell Modern Art, London UK
2000 GANG-Blackheath Hall, London UK
Aartvark Gallery, Leed, UK
Atlantis Gallery, London UK
Open Studio Trinity Buoy Wharf, London UK
1999 LETEC Exhibition, London UK.
OPEN STUDIO -Trinity Buoy Wharf, London UK
Alternative Arts Exhibition, London UK
Trinity Buoy Wharf Group, London UK
1998 THE WHITECHAPEL OPEN 98, London UK
Hidden Art Spitz Gallery, London UK
1997
1996
LETEC Exhibition, London UK
SCORCHED Brockhall Village, Lancashire UK
1995 Platform Art Gallery, Clitheroe, Lancashire UK
FIRST OPEN STUDIO Brockhall Village, Lancashire UK
1994 LVS Resource Centre, London UK
Devenant Centre, London UK
1993/4 CONTRIBUTIONS of Panchayat, Spitalfields Market, London
The York Hall, London
TEXACO BUILDING Westerry Circus, Canary Wharf, London
The Concourse Gallery, Barbican Centre, London
1992 SYMPTOM Brixton Art Gallery , London
INTERNATIONAL ARTS EVENT Hull, England
LATOF Spitalfields Market, London
1st exhibition of 4th World Arts, London
2nd exhibition of 4th World Arts, London
“A Church with a View” at the St. Peters Heritage Centre, London
1989 NEW YEARS DAY, Zia Hall University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
1984/9 All annual/major exhibitions at The Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka.
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2010 20-21 Visual Arts Centre ,
2002 Lord Mayor Show London Commissioned by Udichi UK
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2001
1999
1997
Commissioned by Chol Theater Yorkshire-Decorating a traditional boat to explore idea from children and artists own experience, work process were involved 32 local Infant School student, from Huddersfield, Yorkshire UK.
Commissioned by the Millennium Commission to develop Banglatown Explosion Installation, work process were involved 121 students from Mulbury Girls High School and Jagonari Center, London UK.
LIFT (London International Festival Theater) Utshob project in collaboration with Ateam Arts of Tower Hamlets Council’s to produce work with Wapping Youth centre and Central Foundation Girls High School more than 60 students were involved.
1997 Brentwood Special needs School students, Cheshire UK
1996 Elien Child Care- as a part time Art teacher with children age between 2-4, Brockhall Village, Lancashire, UK
1993 -94 Buxton Infant School, London. This involved more than 120 students in creating permanent art work for the school. I had been appointed by the Free From Arts Trust to create an art work for Buxton Primary School at London. Where I have involved pupils from age between four to seven years old. It was combined creation process of innocent child and adult thoughts. The work has mount within still and fly-wood painted by the image of children drawing for the play ground and the front gate of the schools.
1994 Visiting Artist-Summer School, Stepney Green High School, London programmes working with pupils between ages of nine to twenty four years old.
1997
2000
Talk on Philosophy of the Arts and his work (The Open University) at the London School of Economics, London UK
Aartvark Gallery, Leeds, UK
2006
Wonder Acklam, Commissioned by The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, London UK
2001
2000
Chol Theatre “Lady Rani boat painting involved 30 student from local primary school in Huddersfield, UK.
Investment Bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserestein, London UK
1997 LIFT utshob project collaboration work with A team Arts of Tower Hamlets, London UK
Artist in residency at Central Foundation Girls School, Tower Hamlets, London UK
Brentwood School Arts Week 97, Cheshire UK
1995 Temporary Museum work Devenan Center, London UK
1994 Visiting Artist- Summer School, Stepney Green High School, London
Buxton School, London UK
2008
2002
2001
BBC Look North (July –7)
ETV Bangladesh & Europe
BBC World service radio, broadcast from Bush House, London UK
Voice of America VOA radio, broadcast from Washington, USA
Bangla TV, London UK
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2008
2007
University of Leicester, UK
The Burghley House UK
2006
2005
Explosion Arts, UK
CEN Magazine, UK
CEN Magazine, UK
2001 Folding Catalogue McDoweel Modern Art, Sep. London UK The Ham&High
Hampsted & Highgate Express Aug- 24 London, UK
New exhibitions of contemporary art, UK
The weekly Potrica, 4th Sep- 10 September London, UK
Folding Catalogue three person show McDoweel Modern Art, London
2000 The Instalational22 - 28 December London UK
The Weekly Notun Din 15 - 21 December, UK
The weekly Potrica, 12th December- 18 December, UK
The Weekly East End life 7 December, London UK
The Weekly Janomoth 01 -07 December London UK
The Weekly Syleter Dack, London UK
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Catalogue 5th December, London UK
Abu Jafar Open - Explosion Arts International flyer, London UK
Kinds Konnect 2nd July London, UK
The Reporter Dewsbury January 21 UK
The Betley News January 20, UK
The Evening Post Yorkshire, 7th February, UK
The Awaaz May, UK
The Reporter Dewsbury February 4th UK
1999 Hidden Art November, London UK
All on the Wharf, London UK
East End Life 28 June - 4 July, London UK
East End Life 19 - 25 April, London Uk
1998 The Spitz November/ December, London UK
Hidden Art November / December, London UK
Enterprise, London July, London UK
The East End Enterprise, August, London UK
1995 The Whaltham Forest Guardian October 12, London UK
The Whaltham Forest Guardian October 5 , London UK
Changing Room Gallery, October, London UK
Whaltham Forest Arts Council, October. London UK
1994 The Weekly Notun Din, London 5th- 11th August, UK
London Festival of Bangladesh July, London UK
New end Theater Gallery, January London UK
1992 National Artists Association News Bulletin, July-August, UK
The Weekly Purbodesh 28th February, London UK
Time Out - the Weekly magazine, Sep.
1991 The Eastern Eye, London 15th October. UK
The Daily Ittefaque, Dhaka 21st May, Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Times, Dhaka 17th May, Bangladesh
The Daily Khabar, Dhaka 20th May, Bangladesh
The Daily Janapad, Dhaka 20th May, Bangladesh
The Daily Janata, Dhaka 20th May, Bangladesh
The Daily Millath, Dhaka 15th May, Bangladesh
USSR Cultural Center Catalogue, Dhaka 7th April Bangladesh
The Daily Ittefaque, Dhaka 7th April, Bangladesh
The Daily Dainik Bangla, Dhaka 7th April, Bangladesh
The Daily Star, Dhaka 5th April, Bangladesh
The Daily Desh, Dhaka 5th April, Bangladesh
1990 The Friday Magazine, 17 - 23 August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Daily Sangbad, Dhaka 12th August, Bangladesh
The Daily Ittefaque, Dhaka 11th August, Bangladesh
The Daily New Nation, Dhaka 11th August, Bangladesh
The British Council Catalogue 7 - 17 August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The British Council August News, Dhaka Bangladesh
The New Nation Magazine, 17th August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Observer Magazine, 10th August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Morning Sun, 10th August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Observer, 10th August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Daily Millath, 9th August, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Times, 8th August, Dhaka Bangladesh
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1989 The Weekly Notun Din, 13 - 19 October, London UK
The New Nation, 19th June, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Daily Ittefaque, 18th June, Dhaka Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Observer, 16th June, Dhaka Bangladesh
1999-2000 Director CIDA (Cultural Industries Development Agency) London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London UK
1988-9 Cultural Vice Chairman of Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International.
1987-9 President of Charu Kala Leo Club, Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International,
2008 The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge UK
2001 Life time membership of the Millennium Awards Fellowship, UK
1988-9 Leo Dist. President Award for outstanding performance of the year
from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh.
1988-9
1988-9
1988-9
Best Leo Award from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh.
100% Leo Activity Award, from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh.
Meritorious Award from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh.
1987-8 1st Annual Conference Chairman Award from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh.
1987-8 Best Leo Award from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh.
1987-8 100% Leo Activity Award from Leo Dist.315A, Lions Clubs International.
2001 First group show at MDMA, London.
Maurice Agis at McDowell Modern Art
Pascal Michel at McDowell Modern Art
1991 Organised a Two person show with collaboration between Explosion and USSR Cultural centre, Dhaka Bangladesh.
1993 Organised Group exhibition at the EXPLOSION ART GALLERY, London.
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